Recorder race among highlights of Tuesday primary

Published 10:59 pm, Monday, March 14, 2016

EDWARDSVILLE — With many of the high-profile Madison County offices featuring uncontested primaries, the race for recorder holds heightened local interest Tuesday.

Democratic incumbent Amy Meyer will face off against challenger Shannon Bradford in Tuesday’s election, the only race for county office with two candidates from the same party. County Board Chairman Alan Dunstan, Circuit Clerk Mark Von Nida, State’s Attorney Tom Gibbons, Auditor Rick Faccin and Coroner Steve Nonn, all Democrats, are running unopposed for their party’s nomination, as is chairman-hopeful and current Treasurer Kurt Prenzler, a Republican.

The race between Meyer and Bradford for the seemingly benign recorder position hasn’t been without controversy. Bradford has criticized the spending practices of Meyer, who has been the county’s recorder since 2012, saying Meyer’s hiring of outside consultants and travel expenses, among others, were wasteful. Meyer defended the consultant work as necessary to improving the office working environment and said the travel expenses, totaling $7,700 over a two-year period, is part of professional development as a county official.

One of the other big decisions that will be put to voters Tuesday is a proposed tax in Macoupin County that would benefit schools in the area. The maximum 1 percent sales tax, which can be implemented in a quarter-of-a-percent increments to ease the transition, could generate thousands of dollars to help with facility improvements at the county’s schools.

Under the law, services would not be taxed, nor would items such as motor vehicles, mobile homes, medication, farm equipment or unprepared foods. Items such as soft drinks, prepared food from restaurants, clothing, jewelry, technology items, gasoline and personal care items would be included under the new sales tax. If passed, the tax could not be used for several school-related items, such as direct instructional costs, textbooks, buses, computers, electronic tablets, operating costs and salaries. It could, however, be used to fund security, entrances, disabled access, ongoing maintenance, fire prevention and life safety equipment, energy efficiency, roof repairs and parking lots, among others.

On a state and national level, three races could have an impact on local residents. U.S. Congressmen John Shimkus, R-15th District, and Rodney Davis, R-13th District, have challengers in state Sen. Kyle McCarter and pharmacist Ethan Vandersand, respectively. Both Congressmen face claims from their opponents of not being conservative enough.

At the state level, Illinois Sen. Sam McCann, a Republican representing the 50th District, which includes parts of Jersey, Macoupin and Greene counties, is being challenged by law enforcement officer and Prairie Capital Convention Center board member Bryce Benton. McCann is the only Republican incumbent who has the distinction of not being endorsed by Gov. Bruce Rauner in Tuesday’s primary.

A handful of Madison County Board races feature contested primaries, as well. In District 2, Republican incumbent Roger Alons is facing challenger Donald Moore; in District 3, Republican incumbent Bill Meyer is squaring off with challengers Philip Chapman and Rodney Dustmann; in District 6, the Republican nomination for the seat of Steve Adler, who chose not to run again, is up for grabs between Raymond Wesley and David Baker; and in District 19, where Democrat Terry Davis resigned from his seat in December, two Democrats, Harry Briggs and Michael Parkinson, are running.

Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 7 p.m. Tuesday. For more information or to find your polling location, visit the Madison County Clerk’s website at co.madison.il.us/departments/county_clerk.

Reach reporter Nathan Grimm at 618-208-6451 or on Twitter @GrimmTelegraph.